IMPROVING LIVER CARE THROUGH COLLABORATION

The ambition of AASLD's Liver Networks of Excellence is to improve the quality of liver care by bringing 
institutions together around defined areas of clinical practice. By combining shared measures of performance 
with an understanding of how care is delivered in different real-world settings, the network will identify, 
develop and share approaches that improve patient outcomes across the liver care community.

This project is deeply rooted in AASLD’s mission to advance and disseminate the science and practice of 
hepatology and ultimately cure liver disease. It reflects our commitment to turning knowledge into action, 
working together to improve liver care and outcomes for everyone, everywhere.

The inaugural pilot will bring together a small, diverse group of institutions to test how this collaborative 
approach can work in practice. Its purpose is to establish a sustainable model for sharing data, generating 
insight and translating learning into practical improvements that can benefit the wider liver care system.

ABOUT THE PILOT

AASLD is inviting approximately five institutions to take part in a 12-month pilot, bringing together different 
clinical settings, patient populations and approaches to liver care.

We want to hear from everyone delivering liver care – from large academic medical centers and integrated 
health systems to community clinics and APP-led teams. Some institutions may have established expertise to 
share; others may be looking to strengthen their approach to quality improvement. Both perspectives are 
important to the success of the pilot.

Institutions are invited to propose an area of liver disease in which they have particular expertise, experience or 
ambition to improve care. These proposals should consider one or more of three stages of the patient journey:

  1. Prevention and early identification
  2. Prevention of progression and decompensation
  3. Management of decompensated liver disease

The final clinical focus and shared measures will be agreed through the selection and onboarding process.
Over the pilot period, participating institutions will work together to:

  • Understand and describe how care is currently delivered.
  • Capture and share relevant clinical data and insight, building on existing systems wherever possible.
  • Participate in regular collaborative learning sessions to identify what works, what gets in the way and why.
  • Test practical improvements and contribute to the design of the future networks.

Participation is expected to require approximately 5–10 hours per month, with each institution nominating a 
clinical lead. AASLD will provide programme coordination, facilitated peer learning, access to relevant clinical 
and quality-improvement expertise, and support with measurement and analysis. AASLD is also seeking an 
institution with the capability to provide data coordination and technical support to the pilot

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Participating in the pilot offers a unique opportunity to help shape a new AASLD initiative from the outset. With AASLD's support, institutions will work with peers to share experience, develop practical quality-improvement approaches and identify opportunities to strengthen patient care.

Pilot institutions will help define how the future Liver Network of Excellence operates, contributing to a model designed around the real-world needs of different care settings. Their contribution will be recognized by AASLD, including at TLM 2027.

AASLD SUPPORT

AASLD will provide program coordination, facilitated peer learning, access to relevant clinical and quality-improvement expertise, and support with measurement and analysis. Funding is available for the institution acting as the data coordination center. The pilot is intended to be a supported, collaborative process rather than an additional improvement program institutions must deliver independently. Institutions should outline any additional support they require in their Expression of Interest. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

AASLD welcomes expressions of interest from institutions across the liver care ecosystem, including academic medical centers, integrated health systems, community-based services and multidisciplinary care models. Selection will consider clinical interest and ambition, leadership commitment, ability to participate, and the contribution each institution can make to a diverse and collaborative pilot cohort. Institutions will not be selected solely on their current performance or infrastructure.

Indicative timeline

  • November 2026: Launch of the call for pilot institutions
  • January 8th 2027: Expression of Interest Submission Deadline
  • February 2027: Selection and onboarding of participating institutions
  • 2027: Baseline measurement, collaborative learning and improvement activities
  • TLM 2027: Sharing pilot learning and proposed next steps

Express your interest.

FIND OUT MORE

AASLD will host two information seminars for institutions interested in participating, providing an opportunity to learn more about the pilot and application process.

December 1, 2026 – 10:00 AM ET
December 10, 2026 – 2:00 PM ET

Register for our Information Webinar

Recordings will be made available to all registrants.

Contact AASLD for further information

Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE LIVER NETWORK OF EXCELLENCE

The Liver Network of Excellence is a new AASLD initiative bringing liver care teams together to share data, exchange expertise, and learn from one another to improve patient care.

By connecting institutions across different clinical settings, the Network aims to identify what works, understand why, and develop practical approaches that can improve outcomes for patients with liver disease.

We are inviting approximately five institutions to participate in an inaugural 12-month pilot to help shape how the Liver Network of Excellence will operate.

Participating institutions will work together to explore clinical challenges, share their experiences, identify opportunities for improvement, and test how collaborative learning can lead to better patient care. The pilot will help AASLD understand what works and how to develop a sustainable Network that can benefit the wider liver care community.

No. The Liver Network of Excellence is not an accreditation, certification, or ranking program. It is about bringing institutions together to learn from one another and improve care. We are interested in We are interested in different experiences and perspectives, not simply recognizing institutions that already demonstrate high performance.

APPLYING TO THE PILOT

We welcome interest from institutions across the liver care community, including:

  • Academic medical centers
  • Integrated health systems
  • Community-based clinics and services
  • Advanced practice provider (APP)-led teams

You do not need to be an established leader in quality improvement to participate. We are looking for institutions with experience to share, as well as those committed to strengthening their approach to delivering care.

We have deliberately not prescribed a single disease area or clinical focus. We encourage institutions to identify where they believe they could make the greatest contribution. This might include prevention and early identification of liver disease, preventing disease progression and decompensation, or managing more advanced liver disease.

The final clinical focus and shared measures will be determined through the selection and onboarding process.

Complete our online Expression of Interest, telling us a little about your institution, the clinical area you would like to focus on, your experience and capabilities, and why you would like to participate. The process is designed to be as straightforward and accessible as possible.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted by January 8, 2027.

We are looking to bring together a small, diverse group of institutions that can contribute different experiences, perspectives, and approaches to delivering liver care. Selection will consider your proposed clinical focus, leadership commitment, ability to participate, and the contribution your institution could make to collaborative learning. 

We are not simply looking for the institutions with the strongest existing performance. A willingness to collaborate, share experiences, and learn is equally important.

PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT

Participating institutions will work with AASLD and other pilot members to:

  • Share relevant information about how care is currently delivered
  • Identify successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement
  • Learn from the experiences and approaches of other institutions
  • Explore and test practical improvements in their own settings
  • Help shape the future Liver Network of Excellence

AASLD will coordinate and facilitate the pilot, with detailed participation arrangements agreed during onboarding.

We intend to build on information that institutions already collect wherever possible, rather than introduce unnecessary reporting requirements. The specific measures, data requirements, and arrangements for sharing information will be developed with participating institutions.

The level of involvement will vary depending on the institution and the activities undertaken. We anticipate that each institution will identify a clinical lead and participate in regular collaborative learning and improvement activities. More detailed expectations will be discussed and agreed during onboarding.

The pilot offers an opportunity to:

  • Improve care: Identify practical ways to strengthen patient care and outcomes
  • Learn from others: Share knowledge and experiences with institutions working in different clinical settings
  • Build capability: Strengthen approaches to measurement, quality improvement, and care delivery
  • Shape the future: Help design a new national AASLD initiative from its earliest stage

Participating institutions will also contribute to a growing understanding of how collaborative learning can improve liver care across different settings.

AASLD will provide program coordination, facilitated peer learning, access to relevant clinical and quality-improvement expertise, and support with measurement and analysis. Funding is available for the institution acting as the data coordination center. The pilot is intended to be a supported, collaborative process rather than an additional improvement program institutions must deliver independently. Institutions should outline any additional support they require in their Expression of Interest.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  • November 2026: Launch of the Liver Network of Excellence and opening of Expressions of Interest
  • December 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET: Online information session
  • December 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET: Online information session
  • January 8, 2027: Expression of Interest deadline
  • February 2027: Anticipated selection and onboarding of pilot institutions
  • 2027: Pilot activities, shared learning, and improvement initiatives

Interested in learning more? Join one of our online information sessions to hear about the pilot and ask questions. 

Learn More and Submit an Expression of Interest. Applications close January 8, 2027.

The learning and experience generated through the pilot will help AASLD determine how the Liver Network of Excellence can develop and grow. Our ambition is to create a sustainable national learning Network that enables more institutions to collaborate, share successful approaches, and continually improve care for patients with liver disease.